Griggs courier., 1887-06-24

detached as sharp ooters for the cal
vary corps, the battalion recrossed the
Potomac and took part in the engage
ments Of Leetown, Opeckon Bridge and
Miller's Hill, where it greatly distin-
guished itself, with detachment Of the
Thirty-sixth Virginia Battalion, all
under the command Of Colonel Witcher,
by holding position sfter the rest Of
the forces had, with the artillery, been
driven from the field. When the centre
and left were reformed and reinforced
it charged and drove the enemy back
for more than q mile. It was soon
ordered to East Tennessee and Joined
Brigadier General John s. Williams
command. Under him the Thirty-fourth
participated in the engagements Of Blue
Spring, where, though the Confederate
forces were defeated, the battalion re-
tired in good order and covered the re-
treat at Rheatown and Davis Mill. It
greatly distinguished itself in these en-
gagements, as well a. at Blountville.
At Blue Spring Sergeant johnson, of
Company E. whilst lying in line Of
battle behind a tree, was shot and
killed by ball which struck . limb
some fifty feet above him and, glancing
downward, struck him in the left side
and abdomen.
With Bottles regiment Of Tennes-
seeans the battalion fought at Zollicofer
and under Brigadier General William
E. Jones bore brilliant parts in the en-
gagements of Rogersville. Baufman's
Ford, Thornhill. Elizabethtown. Bawl's
Bridge. Wyerman's Mills, and under
Colonel Witcher the battalion defeated
Federal forces on Johns Creek and at
Louisa, Kentucky; at Turkey Cove,
Greary Cove and the gap of the noun
tain, near Bran Station, at the last
place charging dismounted after dark
Federal force, driving it from its position
and capturing its camp and equipage.
At Toyville, Tennessee, it charged a
large Federal brigade in the night,
driving it out of It's camp. At Wy
mans Mills it charged and broke q
Federal line of infantry and captured
two companies of prisoners. At
Thornhill it captured, in 1864, twenty
wagons loaded with supplies for Gener-
al Burnside. In Lee county, Virginia,
it captured Federal wagon train of
thirty-nine wagons belonging to the
Federal garrison at Cumberland Gap.
The command was engaged at Mount
Airy and Marion in the battles he
tween Stoneman and Breckenridge,
and bore conspicuous parts in both.
In the battle of Marion Colonel Witcher's
horse was shot under him, and. his foot
being entangled in the stirrup. the horse
fell upon him and had to be lifted off.
After this battle the command was
ordered to Lynchburg and dismounted
to meet General Sheridan's forces, who
had captured Early's command at
Waynesborough. and it was supposed
would push on to Lynchburg. The
command was shortly afterwards
ordered back to Southwestern Virginia
and soon disbanded. The battalion
was armed with muzzle-loading Enfield
rifles, pistols and sabrey, nearly all of
which were captured, as well as their
cClellan saddles.
In August, 1868, William Stratton.
major of the Thirty-fourth Battalion,
went, under Witcher, on an expedition
into West Virginia. At McDonald's,
Witcher, who was in command, being
in front with the advance guard, rode
up within thirty yards of company of
the Thirty Ohio Infantry. The
Federals were in an apple orchard at
the side of the road. Witcher and the
advance did not discover the Fed
erals until they were ordered to halt.
Putting spurs to their horses Witcher
and the advance rode through. STRAIT
ton hearing the firing in front, gallant
ly charged with his whole force and
captured the entire Federal force, ex-
cepting only one man. Moving for
ward two miles to Wyoming Court
House, Witcher attacked and drove the
Federal forces out of the town and fol-
lowed them several miles in the direc-
tion of Flattop Mountain. Then he
resumed his march in direction of Lo-
gan Court House and upon the Sd of
August, when within eight miles of
that place, learned that a strong de-
tachment of the Fourth Virginia Fed
eral Regiment under Major Hall had
gene in the direction of the Big Sandy.
At daybreak on the 9th Witcher with
his whole force started in pursuit and
late in the afternoon overlook, attacked
and defeated the Federals after
bloody engagement. Major Hall was